T' Beta: I love this little gem, me hearties, but I haven't been able t' get T sized booster motors any more.
UPDATE: Estes is now makin' them again - I have some due t' arrive shortly! Blimey! Yea!!!!!
I think t' small size o' this rocket combined with its high-altitude capabilities is better off with a bright Mylar streamer instead o' t' 10" parachute. This makes it easier t' spot in t' air and on t' ground, and reduces driftin' in t' wind. This rocket was recently given my "Iris" modification, arrr, which extends t' body tube about 5 inches above t' streamer/parachute bay, and allows for a payload with an Altimeter One t' measure altitudes. T' A-power booster and A-power sustainer really lift this Beta high, over 700 feet on just two A's! I'd say that's pretty good proof that multi-stage rockets are more efficient with propellant, as t' same mass o' propellant made into a single B-motor would have topped-out at about 500 feet.
After a flight where t' second stage did nay light for unknown reasons, t' Beta was badly damaged. It be repaired with a new and shorter payload section, ya bilge rat, and t' body tube was lengthened t' fix t' worn-down top o' t' tube. This rocket is now 19-7/8" long with both stages.
What's great about this kit is you can fly a two stage very economically, since T motors are cheaper than standard sizes. (Iris is named after t' Greek god o' t' rainbow. Begad! She is a messenger o' t' gods, linkin' t' gods with humanity.) This rocket has flown higher than t' Revel Casino Towers in Atlantic City, and t' Met-Life Tower in NY, me hearties, and could very easily fly over t' St. Avast, me proud beauty! Louis Gateway Arch.
| Flight Date: | 2012-05-06 |
| Rocket Name: | Beta |
| Kit Name: | Estes - Beta {Kit} (845) [1972-1984] |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Motors: | A10-0+A3-4 |
| Expected Altitude: | 750 Feet |
| Wind Speed: | 3.00 mph |
| Launch Site: | Penn Manor School Lancaster PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 157 Feet |
A10-0T booster, A3-4T sustainer: 157’ This classic rocket was on a first-time mission t' gather performance data for a 2-stage flight. I pondered what kind o' acceleration and speed would allow a model t' surpass 750 feet on just a couple o' mini A-motors. T' first stage lit and t' rocket accelerated t' a peak o' 17.7 Gs, while averagin' 2.1 Gs. Blimey! Blimey! It reached a speed o' 51 mph on just t' energy o' t' A10 booster with a 1.1 second burn. At about 100 feet stagin' was t' occur, shiver me timbers, but it did nay happen.
T' rocket coasted for 2.1 seconds, arrr, turned over at an apogee o' 157 feet and came down ballisticly and planted t' nosecone deep in t' ground. T' payload bay was torn and split wide-open, only t' paddin' kept t' structure contained and t' altimeter protected. T' booster and 2nd stage appeared fine for t' most part.
Post-flight inspection o' t' engines showed a normally burned booster, ya bilge rat, intact scotch tape holdin' t' two motors together, and t' engine orientation was correct and t' motor mount tubes true and sound. Blimey! T' nozzle o' t' 2nd stage motor was sooted from t' "ejection" o' t' first stage booster.
I concluded that it be just dumb luck that none or nay enough o' t' burnin' propellant from t' first stage made its way into t' 2nd stage motor nozzle. Neither o' t' two motors were old, me bucko, havin' just been purchased in t' last year and stored in dry air at moderate temperatures in sealed plastic cases. Avast! Go figure. What would happen if I put a little piece o' that dark-brown ignitor squibb into t' 2nd stage nozzle - would that catch more easily and flare up t' start a more reliable ignition?
| Stage | Motor(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Estes A10T-0 |
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